NY TIMES: Jazz Name Might Be In Play

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03-22-2002, 11:49 AM
iedmunds

NY TIMES: Jazz Name Might Be In Play

Huge story on Page D6 of today's New York Times Sport Section - I looked for the article posted online but couldn't find it, so I'll just type it out here. (Its credited to Bloomberg News, so maybe someone can find an electronic copy on their news wire)

JAZZ NAME MIGHT BE IN PLAY

If the N.B.A.'s Hornets move to New Orleans from Charlotte, one of the team's co-owners would "love nothing more" than to reacquire the Jazz nickname.

"There's no better description for the team down there than the Jazz," the Hornets' co-owner Ray Wooldridge said in a telephone interview.

Obtaining the Jazz nickname, however, would require an agreement between the Hornets and the Utah Jazz owner, Larry Miller, who did not return phone calls.

The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City from New Orleans in 1979, thought the team's nickname didn't change.

It is common for teams to keep their nicknames, even though they no longer have a geographical tie. For example, the Lakers kept their nickname after moving from Minneapolis. The Memphis team, which moved from Vancouver, is still the Grizzlies.

N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern visited New Orleans on Wednesday with a seven-member committee of owners that will recommend to the league's board of governors whether the proposed move should be allowed. The Hornets need a majority of the N.B.A.'s 29 teams to approve their request. Owners probably will vote during their next regularly scheduled meeting April 8 or 9. (Bloomberg News)
03-22-2002, 11:55 AM
CC_Hornet-x

That would be great to get the JAZZ name back where it belongs:D :D :D :D :D
03-22-2002, 11:57 AM
Ellis Hugh

Don't count on it. Just because Woolridge wants the Jazz name (who doesn't) doesn't mean that the Jazz want to give it up.
03-22-2002, 12:04 PM
iedmunds

Interesting though to hear that Wooldridge is not attached to keeping the name "Hornets." This makes me think that there's a good chance that after the first season, if they aren't able to buy back the name Jazz, they will change it to something with a local flair.

The best names I've heard are:

Revelers
Gators
Rhythm
Hurricanes
Pistols
Kingfish (currently used by the Baton Rouge ECHL team - but what a great nickname)
03-22-2002, 12:09 PM
CC_Hornet-x

Reverlers sounds pretty good too. But, they should at least try to get the Jazz know matter how unlikely. You wonder why Salt Lake never changed it. Jazz has nothing to do with Salt Lake. Utah Mormons would be a better name.
03-22-2002, 12:10 PM
SaveFarris

To be fair, Utah has now been the Jazz longer than NO was the Jazz.

Still a mismatched nickname, though.
03-22-2002, 12:30 PM
CajunCrippler

Kingfish is a terrible name...

I always said that Baton Rouge's ECHL team should be called the Red Sticks... and they could play using red hockey sticks..... it's PERFECT!

Anyway, if we can't get the Jazz name back, I'd be happy just keeping the Hornets name.
That way, they wouldn't have to change the URL for this web site. :D
03-22-2002, 12:42 PM
say-what-x

The Bloomberg article had a little more detail and I include that below. Here is the Bloomberg link:

Hornets Co-Owner Would `Love Nothing More' Than Jazz Nickname
****
One consultant to professional sports teams said Utah's Miller might be wise to change his team's name.

Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based Sportscorp Ltd., said it's the perfect time for the Utah franchise to focus on the future.

Utah's best players are Karl Malone, 38, and John Stockton, who turns 40 on Tuesday. With their retirements not too far off, a new nickname might help create excitement after they depart, Ganis said.

``The name is so incongruous that I think it would benefit them,'' Ganis said. ``It'd be almost a new beginning.''
****
Wooldridge said he has ``no doubt'' owners will approve the move.

Initially, Wooldridge said, the team will be called the Hornets. If there's a chance to reclaim Jazz, then ``we'll get to that at some point,'' he said.
03-22-2002, 12:46 PM
CC_Hornet-x

That's a good story SAY-WHAT I hope that the Utah owner reads it. It would be good for Utah I think. (Oh, and for N.O.) :D
03-22-2002, 01:15 PM
spongey

Unfortunately, I don't think we have a chance to get the Jazz nickname. It's got too much history in Utah even though it's not suited for that state.
03-22-2002, 01:24 PM
CC_Hornet-x

I guess we could stay with the Hornets. There logo is cool and the colors are really nice. Maybe we could just change the look like ya'll did on the front page.
03-22-2002, 01:30 PM
say-what-x

They definitely need to tuff'n up that Hornets logo and the color scheme a bit.
03-23-2002, 10:13 AM
Rickboy

I'm still for the New Orleans VooDoo. Hurricanes and Gators fit the area but they are already well known names in the NCAA. NewOrleansVoodoo.com is owned by someone selling bath oils and candles. I'm sure that the Hornets could easily buy the name from the current owner.

Other names that would work:

New Orleans Cayanne
New Orleans Pelicans
Louisisana Crawdaddys
New Orleans Jambalaya
Louisiana Mormons :D (can't resist throwing that one in).

I think Tom Benson owns the Pelican's name but I'm not sure about that.

NewOrleansPelicans.com is owned by a Chris Anderson in Dallas, TX. It's not being used right now however.
03-23-2002, 10:54 AM
PELICANSFAN

I am fine with Hornets.
03-23-2002, 10:59 AM
CC_Hornet-x

Quote:

Originally posted by HORNETSFAN
I am fine with Hornets.

I think if we try to get the Jazz and it fails we re-tool the Hornet Logo and that will still be a great name for the team. We need to New Orleans-ize the logo though.
03-23-2002, 11:16 AM
Southpaw

Quote:

Originally posted by HORNETSFAN
I am fine with Hornets.

I am too.

I'd love to see us make a run at getting the Jazz name. But realistically there's not much of a chance of that.

Since we are going to be the Hornets next year no matter what, we might as well remain the Hornets.

I'm with Harvey in that I cringe when I hear some of the local suggestions...many sound too forced or downright minor league.

Only exception would be the Pelicans...which is a fine name for a New Orleans sports team...steeped in tradition and flows well...espeically when shortened to "Pels". Benson does own the name. But I'm sure in the spirit of cooperation that he is now demonstrating, he'd be willing to part with it. Heck...he didn't use it on his arena team...opting for the arena-league sounding "VooDoo."

Still, overall, I'm fine with Hornets and look forward to many years cheering for them!
03-23-2002, 01:03 PM
West Coast Hornet

How is this for a semi-compromise if we can't get "Jazz" back. Keep the Hornets name, or whatever name, and try to bring back the purple, green, and gold colors? Accentuate the purple and green, even if mild, and minimize the gold so as not to interfere with the colors of the seats at the arena, which wooly liked. Just an idea.
03-23-2002, 03:32 PM
NorthlakeHornet

Change the name to New Orleans Gumbo and the dance team can b called the Taters like in a crawfish boil):rolleyes:
03-25-2002, 03:19 AM
BGH

Quote:

Originally posted by Rickboy
I'm still for the New Orleans VooDoo. Hurricanes and Gators fit the area but they are already well known names in the NCAA. NewOrleansVoodoo.com is owned by someone selling bath oils and candles.

New Orleans VooDoo is already taken by Benson for his Arena Football Team.
03-26-2002, 07:00 PM
CHICAGOGRIZZLY

Random thoughts...

+ After all this work to get the Hornets, I'd almost think you guys would want to keep that name.

+ Jazz would be fine, but that really is associated with Utah now, even though it doesn't fit.

+ I think it would be a crime to change a team name after one year. The Grizzlies should stay the Grizzlies now. All their fans rushed out and got Grizzlies gear, only to have to go back next year to get "Express" merchandise or whatever? I don't like that idea. Same with the Hornets. If they play even one season as the New Orleans Hornets, they should stay that for a while.

+ Why does that Marc Ganis get quoted in EVERY article about sports business? Has he ever been right? What did he do to become the authority on all things NBA?

+ Color-wise, the Bucks use purple-green-silver and a number of other teams use purple. Adding gold to the teal and purple might not be bad, though.
03-26-2002, 07:33 PM
neworleanshoo

Quote:

How is this for a semi-compromise if we can't get "Jazz" back. Keep the Hornets name, or whatever name, and try to bring back the purple, green, and gold colors? Accentuate the purple and green, even if mild, and minimize the gold so as not to interfere with the colors of the seats at the arena, which wooly liked. Just an idea.

That's exactly what I think. Just throw in a little purple and gold to the aqua and create a "horn"-type logo and suddenly you have a really jazzy HORNet thing going on that works really well for new orleans.

I love the idea of the new logo having the hornet playing a horn. that's perfect.